U.S. patent number 5,950,898 [Application Number 08/938,122] was granted by the patent office on 1999-09-14 for lottery ticket dispensing apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Instant Technologies, Incorporated. Invention is credited to Louis P. Menna.
United States Patent |
5,950,898 |
Menna |
September 14, 1999 |
Lottery ticket dispensing apparatus
Abstract
A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket dispensing
mechanism for advancing a continuous strip of lottery tickets
therethrough and subsequent separation of the selected number of
tickets from the continuous strip. The machine includes a framing
assembly for housing the dispensing mechanism which is controlled
by a computer driven printed circuit board for determining the
distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel. The
dispensing mechanism is powered by a motor for rotation of a set of
pinch rollers and forward feed advancement of the continuous strip
of lottery tickets therethrough. The strip of tickets travels past
a stationary cutting blade subsequently hitting a deflector cover
for directing the strip of tickets in an opposite direction until
reaching the pre-set distance generated by the printed circuit
board at which point the motor reverses and the first encountered
perforation engages the stationary cutting blade for separation of
the selected number of tickets from the continuous strip.
Inventors: |
Menna; Louis P. (Cranston,
RI) |
Assignee: |
Instant Technologies,
Incorporated (Rehoboth, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
26795410 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/938,122 |
Filed: |
September 26, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
225/106; 225/10;
225/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B
3/00 (20130101); G07B 5/02 (20130101); G07B
5/00 (20130101); Y10T 225/30 (20150401); Y10T
225/393 (20150401); Y10T 225/205 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
G07B
3/00 (20060101); G07B 5/00 (20060101); G07B
5/02 (20060101); G07B 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;225/4,93,100,106,10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rada; Rinaldi I.
Assistant Examiner: Bae; Gyounghyun
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Salter & Michaelson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automated vending machine for dispensing instant scratch
lottery tickets perforated at intervals in a continuous strip, said
vending machine comprising:
a framing assembly for housing an instant ticket dispensing
mechanism therein;
control means housed within said framing assembly for presetting
the distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel,
which pre-set distance corresponds to the number of tickets to be
dispensed;
a dispensing mechanism for receiving and dispensing the strip of
tickets comprising a motor operated by said control means for
powering advancement of the continuous strip of tickets in both a
forward and backward direction, a drive gear driven by said motor,
a driven gear which meshes with said drive gear and is driven
thereby, a first pinch roller rotated by said driven gear, said
first pinch roller cooperating with a second pinch roller for
feeding the continuous strip of tickets in the forward direction, a
stationary cutting blade mounted on said framing assembly, guide
means for guiding movement of the strip of tickets from said pinch
rollers through an arcuate path in spaced relation to said cutting
blade, and then in an opposite direction toward an output, and
sensing means for detecting the leading edge of the strip of
tickets and communicating the same to said control means, wherein
upon the strip reaching the pre-set distance generated by the
control means, the sensing means generates a signal to the motor to
reverse direction, thereby reversing direction of the strip,
wherein reversing direction of the strip pulls the strip in a
backwards direction, against the cutting blade so that when the
first encountered perforation engages the cutting blade, the latter
penetrates the perforation, and continued reverse movement of the
strip causes complete tearing away of the selected number of
tickets from the strip.
2. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control
means comprises a computer driven printed circuit board for sending
the appropriate commands to the motor of the ticket dispensing
mechanism.
3. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
stationary cutting blade is tapered at an angle between 100 and 110
degrees from opposite sides to form the apex at the center
thereof.
4. A ticket dispensing mechanism for effectively separating a
selected number of instant scratch lottery tickets from a
continuous strip perforated at intervals, said dispensing mechanism
comprising:
control means for presetting the distance that the continuous strip
of tickets will travel, which pre-set distance corresponds to the
number of tickets to be separated and subsequently dispensed;
a motor operated by said control means for powering advancement of
the continuous strip of tickets the predetermined distance
generated by said control means;
a drive gear driven by said motor;
a driven gear which meshes with said drive gear and is driven
thereby;
a first pinch roller rotated by said driven gear;
a second pinch roller cooperating with said first pinch roller for
rotation of said second pinch roller and forward feeding
advancement of the continuous strip of perforated lottery tickets
between said first and second pinch rollers;
a stationary cutting blade for separation of the selected number of
tickets from the continuous strip;
a deflector cover for directing the continuous strip of tickets
around an arc and then in an opposite direction toward an output,
said cutting blade being located adjacent said arc, and;
a pair of optic sensors for detecting the leading edge of the
lottery tickets when the latter has reached said pre-set distance,
actuation of said sensors causing said motor to reverse direction,
thereby reversing direction of the strip, wherein reversing
direction of the strip pulls the strip in a backwards direction,
against the cutting blade so that when the first encountered
perforation engages the cutting blade, the latter penetrates the
perforation, and continued reverse movement of the strip causes
complete tearing away of the selected number of tickets from the
strip.
5. A ticket dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 4, wherein
said control means comprises a computer driven printed circuit
board for sending the appropriate signals to the motor of the
ticket dispensing mechanism.
6. A ticket dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein
said printed circuit board may be programmed for dispensing lottery
tickets sized between two and sixteen inches.
7. A ticket dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 6, wherein
said stationary cutting blade is tapered at an angle between 100
and 110 degrees from opposite sides to form the apex at the center
thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to lottery ticket dispensing
machines, and more particularly to an automated vending machine for
dispensing a predetermined number of instant scratch lottery
tickets. Specifically, the vending machine includes a dispensing
mechanism which accepts a continuous strip of instant scratch
lottery tickets perforated at intervals and separates a
predetermined number of the tickets from the continuous strip
according to the ticket selection and corresponding computer
generated command.
Although it is widely believed that lotteries are a recent
phenomenon, history tells us that lotteries have been around for
quite some time now. One form or another of the lottery has been
present dating back to the mid-18.sup.th century. For example,
there is evidence of the lottery being active with the pharaohs of
Egypt. Keno, now a video form of the lottery, is over 3,000 years
old and was first played in China to help fund the building of The
Great Wall. El Gordo, Spain's most popular lotto game, was
established in 1763 and is the oldest continually operating lottery
game in the world. The lottery also has a relatively lengthy
history in North America. For example, Ivy league private
universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Brown were helped to be
built with lottery revenues. Further, the Revolutionary war was
partially funded with lottery revenues.
Presently, consumer support for the lottery is at an all time high.
It has been 32 years since the inaugural New Hampshire sweepstakes
and the lotteries have now grown to serve more than 210 million
Americans, some 80% of the nation's population. Today, there are
two basic types of lotteries, the instant scratch off ticket and
on-line gaming. Instant games enable the player to scratch off a
masked area on the ticket to immediately reveal the game result and
prize. On-line lotteries allow participants to select a number
which will be a winner if all or part of it matches numbers
selected in a scheduled drawing. On-line lotteries are, by far, the
most popular, accounting for nearly 75% of the worldwide lottery.
Recently, with the innovation of faster on-line games, the
distinction between the two categories has blurred, and other forms
of lottery are emerging. For example, video lotteries are also
demonstrating popularity, particularly among younger players who
are drawn to technology and style of play. Other lottery forms
include: Lotto, a different form of on-line gaming; Power Ball, now
played in 21 states offering one of the bigger prize rewards;
Numbers; Keno, a form of video or televised gaming; Customized
games, for particular preferences for different regions of the
country or world; Instant games, for people who want to know if
they are immediately a winner or loser; Video lottery and Televised
lottery.
According to a recent survey conducted by one of the largest
lottery companies in the business, Americans approve of legalized
gaming by a 2 to 1 margin. Some of the reasons for such widespread
approval reside in the many benefits that the lottery are believed
to create. For example, the lottery is believed to create jobs and
to be an acceptable form of entertainment. Also, legalized gaming
is believed to keep taxes lower because a portion of its revenue is
returned to the government which helps finance such things as
education, health and public works projects in communities where
the games are being played. A rough breakdown on how the lottery
revenue is believed to be distributed is as follows: 50% prizes to
the winners; 35% to civic gain as mentioned above; 12% to the
lottery administration; and 3% to the lottery system
operations.
The instant invention is directed to lottery vending machines for
dispensing instant scratch lottery tickets of the kind described
above. The machines are effective for dispensing tickets which are
perforated at intervals determined by the type of scratch game. The
ticket intervals can be anywhere from 2 inches up to 16 inches.
When a ticket selection is made, a printed circuit board activates
the dispensing mechanism of the instant invention for dispensing
the selected number of tickets. The vending machines are
distributed to a variety of different public or private locations
which desire to have access to instant scratch lottery tickets of
the kind described above. The vending machines provide for a
different sales outlet for the lottery tickets compared to the
traditional outlets such as a gas station or a convenient
store.
The instant invention relates to an automated vending machine for
dispensing instant scratch lottery tickets perforated at intervals
in a continuous strip. The vending machine comprises a framing
assembly for housing a dispensing mechanism comprising the instant
invention. A computer driven printed circuit board is further
housed within the framing assembly for determining the distance
that the continuous strip of tickets will travel, which distance
corresponds to the number of tickets that will be selectively
dispensed. The dispensing mechanism comprises a motor which is
operated by the printed circuit board for driving a drive gear
which meshes with a driven gear for rotation of a first pinch
roller whereby the first pinch roller cooperates with a second
pinch roller for advancing the continuous strip of tickets forward
through feed guides and between said pinch rollers past a
stationary cutting blade, subsequently hitting a deflector cover
for directing the strip of tickets in the opposite direction until
it reaches the pre-set distance generated by the printed circuit
board. At this point, the motor reverses and the strip of tickets
travel backward so that the first perforation engages the apex of
the stationary cutting blade for separation of the selected number
of tickets from the continuous strip whereby the tickets drop out
of the vending machine and the dispensing mechanism returns to a
home position. A pair of optic sensors are strategically mounted on
support plates of the dispensing mechanism for detecting the
leading edge of the lottery tickets and communicating the same to
the printed circuit board for corresponding operation of the motor
in either the forward or backward direction.
Accordingly among the several objects of the instant invention are:
the provision of a lottery vending machine for dispensing a
selected number of instant scratch lottery tickets; the provision
of a lottery vending machine which may be selectively located at
any desirable public or private location; the provision of a
lottery vending machine which houses a specially constructed
automated dispensing mechanism; the provision of such a dispensing
mechanism having a stationary cutting blade for pull separating the
selected number of tickets from the continuous strip; and the
provision of a lottery vending machine which is cost effective to
manufacture and easy to use.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall
become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered
in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ticket dispensing mechanism of
the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;
FIG. 3 is a front view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4
showing a continuous strip of lottery tickets advanced through the
mechanism of the instant invention;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view similar to that depicted in FIG. 5
showing the direction of rotation of the pinch rollers of the
mechanism of the instant invention and forward advancement of the
strip of lottery tickets therethrough;
FIG. 7 is a similar view to that depicted in FIG. 6 showing further
rotation of the gear driven pinch rollers and further forward
advancement of the strip of lottery tickets therethrough;
FIG. 8 is a similar view to that depicted in FIG. 7 showing the
gear driven pinch rollers rotating in an opposite direction moving
the strip of lottery tickets backwards through the dispensing
mechanism;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8
showing the cutting blade of the mechanism of the instant invention
separating the lottery tickets at a perforation of the continuous
strip; and
FIG. 10 is a similar view to that depicted in FIG. 7 showing a
portion of the lottery tickets separated from the continuous
strip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 the
ticket dispensing mechanism of the instant invention is shown and
generally indicated at 10. As will hereinafter be more fully
described, the instant invention is operable for dispensing a
predetermined number of instant scratch lottery tickets from a
vending machine.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the dispensing mechanism of the instant
invention 10 includes a pair of oppositely positioned parallel
support plates 12, each plate having a threaded bushing 14 mounted
therein for attaching the mechanism 10 within the frame of a
vending machine (not shown). The support plates provide a brace
between which the components of the dispensing mechanism may be
mounted. A horizontally disposed platen 16 is mounted by screws 18
to the vertical support plates 12 and runs perpendicularly
therebetween. A pair of feed guides 20 are fixedly attached by
screws 22 to the vertically disposed support plates 12 and run
generally parallel to the horizontal platen 16 leaving a small gap
between the bottom surface of the feed guides 20 and the top
surface of the platen 16 for guiding insertion of a continuous
strip of instant scratch lottery tickets 24. The dispensing
mechanism 10 further includes a pair of gear driven pinch rollers
26 and 28 which run transversely across vertically disposed support
plates 12. Specifically, a motor 30 is mounted to one of the
support plates 12 beneath the horizontal platen 16. The motor 30 is
controlled by a computer driven printed circuit board (not shown)
and drives a gear shaft 32 which operates a gear drive wheel 34.
The drive gear 34 meshes with a driven gear 36 for rotation of a
pinch roller shaft 38 which rotates the first pinch roller 26. A
second pinch roller 28 is adjacently mounted above the first pinch
roller 26 and engages same for rotation of each roller 26 and 28 in
opposite directions. Further mounted between the vertically
disposed support plates 12 is a cutting blade plate 40 which runs
in substantially the same general plane as does the vertical
support plates 12. A stationary cutting blade 42 is screw mounted
to the cutting blade plate 40 adjacent the pinch rollers 26 and 28
and a deflector cover 44 is threadably mounted between the
vertically disposed support plates 12 adjacent the cutting blade 42
by a pair of threadable rods 46 and releasably held therebetween by
nuts 48.
As most clearly depicted in FIGS. 1-2 the second pinch roller 28 is
mounted between support plates 12 by a pair of delron blocks each
indicated at 50. Specifically, the delron blocks 50 receive
opposite ends of the shaft 52 of the second pinch roller 28 in
correspondingly shaped circular openings 54. The arrangement is
such that the shaft 52 of the second pinch roller 28 rotates within
the openings 54 located in each delron block 50. Each delron block
50 is fitted by a spring 56 within corresponding square shape
openings 58 in oppositely positioned support plates 12. The second
pinch roller 28 further has four roller pads, each indicated at 60,
mounted therearound for engagement with the first pinch roller 26
when the motor 30 drives the gears 34 and 36. Also shown in the
figures, and more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3, are a pair of
optic sensors 62 and 64. One of the optic sensors 62 is mounted on
a bracket 66 which extends from the vertical support plate 12 and
the other sensor 64 is mounted on a bracket 68 which extends from
the cutting blade plate 40 adjacent the motor 30. The sensors 62
and 64 are operable for detecting the leading edge of the lottery
tickets 24 and sending a corresponding signal to the motor 30 for
operation of the dispensing mechanism 10 in either a forward or
backward direction. As best shown in FIG. 2, a set of wires 70
extend from each optic sensor 62 and 64 and a set of wires 70
extend from the motor 30 which terminate in a plug 76 for powering
the dispensing mechanism 10. As previously mentioned, a printed
circuit board (not shown) operates the motor 30 and optic sensors
62 and 64.
Referring now to FIGS. 5-8 the progression of operation of the
ticket dispensing mechanism of the instant invention 10 is shown in
a series of steps. Referring first to FIG. 5, the strip of lottery
tickets 24 is depicted, in broken lines, traveling through the
dispensing mechanism. Specifically, the leading edge of the strip
of lottery tickets 24 is fed over the top surface of the horizontal
platen 16 and under the feed guides 20 where the strip 24 enters
between the pinch rollers 26 and 28 and is fed therethrough by
operation of the motor 30 and rotation of the pinch roller shafts
38 and 52. The strip 24 is then advanced over the stationary
cutting blade 42 which extends generally perpendicular from the
cutting blade plate 40 and contacts the deflector cover 44
continuing forward and down, following the contour of the deflector
44, past the apex 72 edge of the cutting blade 42 until the strip
24 reaches the pre-set distance signaled from the printed circuit
board.
Referring now to FIG. 6, direction of the gears 34 and 36 and pinch
rollers 26 and 28 are indicated by arrows 74 in the drawing.
Specifically, the motor 30 drives the gear shaft 32 to rotate the
drive gear 34 in a clockwise direction. The drive gear 34 meshes
with the driven gear 36 to rotate the first pinch roller 26 in a
counter clockwise direction. The first pinch roller 26 has a
urethane cover which engages the roller pads 60 of the second pinch
roller 28 to rotate same in a clockwise direction. As depicted in
FIG. 6 the strip of lottery tickets 24 is advanced through the
mechanism 10 as described above.
Referring to FIG. 7, the lottery tickets 24 are advanced through
the dispensing mechanism 10 as described above. Specifically, the
strip of tickets 24 are further along in forward advancement than
that depicted in FIGS. 5-6, but have not yet reached the pre-set
distance generated from the printed circuit board. As shown in the
drawing the tickets 24 advance through the mechanism over the
stationary cutting blade and are deflected by the cover 44 sending
the strip under the cutting blade plate 40 which is angled for
unobstructed and controlled advancement of the strip towards the
rear of the mechanism.
Referring now to FIG. 8, the lottery tickets have reached the
pre-set distance generated by the printed circuit board at which
point the motor 30 reverses to send the strip of tickets 24
backwards towards the stationary cutting blade 42. Specifically,
when the leading edge of the tickets 24 reach the pre-set distance,
i.e., the desired number of tickets to be dispensed have passed the
cutting blade, the optic sensors 62 and 64 detect same which sends
a signal to the motor 30 to reverse direction. As shown, when the
motor 30 reverses, the drive shaft 32 rotates the drive gear 34 in
an opposite counter-clockwise direction which meshes with the
driven gear 36 for rotation of the first pinch roller 26 in a
clockwise direction and rotation of the second pinch roller 28 in a
counter-clockwise direction which directs the strip of tickets 24
back towards the deflector cover 44 and stationary cutting blade
42.
Specifically, the tickets 24 travel backwards through the gap
located between the cutting blade 42 and deflector cover 44 and are
pulled against blade 42 wherein the apex 72 of the stationary
cutting blade 42 engages the first encountered perforation of the
continuous strip 24 to penetrate same and then cause complete
separation of the selected number of tickets therefrom.
Referring to FIG. 9, the actual separation of the selected number
of tickets at the apex 72 of the cutting blade 42 is more clearly
depicted. Specifically, the apex 72, which is defined by opposite
tapers of approximately 100-110.degree., penetrates through the
strip 24 at the center of the selected perforation point, and as
the motor 30 continues to operate in the reverse direction, it
bursts or pull-separates the selected number of tickets from the
strip 24 which are subsequently dispensed out of the bottom of the
vending machine. After the selected number of tickets are dispensed
from the machine, the motor 30 again reverses and the mechanism 10
returns to a home position. It should be understood that the apex
of the edge of the cutting blade only comes into contact with the
strip of tickets when the motor is operating in a reverse
direction. In other words, when the motor is advancing the strip of
tickets forward through the dispensing mechanism, the tickets ride
over the stationary cutting blade and never come into contact with
the apex cutting edge, but when the motor reverses, the arrangement
is such that the first encountered perforation engages the apex of
the cutting blade which first penetrates same, and then as the
strip continues to be pulled rearwardly, causes complete tearing
away of the selected number of tickets from the remainder of the
strip in a smooth and effective operation. Also of critical
importance, is the arcuate path through which the strip of tickets
passes when fed by the pinch rollers, specific reference being made
to the fact that when the strip engages the deflector 44, it is
caused to reverse its direction as clearly illustrated in FIGS.
5-8. Thus, when motor 30 reverses, and the strip is pulled against
the cutting blade 42, the strip is generally perpendicular to the
cutting edge which promotes piercing of the perforation by apex
72.
Referring to FIG. 10, the tickets 24 have been separated from the
strip and the mechanism 10 is in motion to return to the home
position. As also shown in FIGS. 5-7, the motor 30 drives gear 34
in a clockwise direction which meshes with the driven 36 gear for
rotation of the pinch roller shafts and advancement of the lottery
tickets 24 to the home position.
It can therefore be seen that the instant invention provides for an
effective vending machine that is selectively operable for
automatically dispensing a predetermined number of instant scratch
lottery tickets from the machines dispensing mechanism. The
dispensing mechanism is controlled by a computer driven printed
circuit board which sends the appropriate signals to a motor for
advancing the continuous strip of perforated lottery tickets
forward through a pair of pinch rollers and past a stationary
cutting blade until the strip reaches a pre-set distance signaled
from the printed circuit board, at which point the motor reverses
itself sending the strip of tickets backwards engaging the
stationary cutting blade for separation of the selected number of
tickets from the continuous strip. The vending machine provides for
an alternative sales outlet and easy access for prospective
purchasers of instant scratch lottery tickets and may be located at
any desirable public or private venue. For these reasons, the
instant invention is believed to represent a significant
advancement in the art which has substantial commercial merit.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific
structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of
the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not
limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *